The Beginning of War in Japan

The Beginning of War in Japan

The Beginning of War in Japan
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 7 to 9
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	7.76

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		happening, invasion, policies, recognition, membership, stalling, alliance, reality, reign, military, emperor, democracy, treaty, conflict, mainland, empire
	content words:		World War II, During World War, United States, After WWI, Second Sino-Japanese War, United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Flying Tigers, Adolph Hitler, Pearl Harbor

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The Beginning of War in Japan
By Jane Runyon

¹     World War II began in Asia much earlier than it did in Europe. Japan was involved in conflict that led to war as early as 1931. During World War I, Japan was one of the Allies. They fought with the United States and Russia against the Germans. After WWI, Japan was able to expand its holdings in Asia. They gained an influence in the world they had not known before the war. Japan joined the League of Nations when it was established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. That alliance with world powers gave Japan the recognition it needed to become a power on its own. During the decade of the 20's, the government of Japan started tipping slightly toward being a democracy. The emperor relinquished some of his power to the people.

²     With the beginning of the 1930's came a change in Japan's government. The military began taking over the decision making policies in the government. By 1931, the Japanese military had invaded Manchuria on the mainland of Asia. They set up a puppet government. The government they established looked like it was being run by the Manchurians. In reality, the Japanese military was making the decisions. They were pulling the strings. The emperor had not even been informed of the plan to invade Manchuria.

³     In 1933, the Japanese military government decided that it no longer needed the friendship of countries in the League of Nations. The leaders didn't want these countries telling them what they could and could not do. They pulled their membership from the League and set out on their own to establish an empire.

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